Sutcliffe began his professional baseball career as a catcher for Cap Anson's Chicago White Stockings, making his major league debut on October 2, 1884, at age 22.

[3] When he debuted in the major leagues, Sutcliffe received attention principally for his unusual height of six feet, two inches.

The Sporting Life in April 1885 observed:"Two Chicago boys tell many amusing stories about their good-natured and popular giant catcher Sutcliffe.

In Chattanooga, as he was standing on the curbstone, a granger, slightly under the influence of liquor, drove up and hitched his horse to him, thinking he was a telegraph pole.

He appeared in only 11 games for the team and was released in mid-July with The Sporting Life reporting that he "must be added to the list of exploded phenomenon.

"[6] In 1886, Sutcliffe played in the minor leagues for the Augusta and Savannah, Georgia clubs in the Southern Association.

[7] Late in the 1887 season, the Milwaukee Journal wrote: "Sutcliffe is a good catcher, but he is without doubt the laziest-looking and slowest-moving player in the Northwestern League.

Sutcliffe had 12 plate appearances in the World Series and managed one hit, a stolen base, and a run scored.

[3] Sutcliffe displayed tremendous strength with his throwing arm, contributing 34 assists and five double plays turned in only 14 games as a catcher.

[3] In an April 1888 game against Cincinnati, "four Reds were nailed while making suckers of themselves trying to steal second on Sutcliffe, who threw like a catapult.

The Brotherhood of Professional Base-Ball Players supported Sutcliffe's case, and he was ultimately promised an additional $250.

[1] In its obituary for Sutcliffe, The Omaha Daily Bee described him as follows:"He was quite a character in his way, and were it not for his intemperate habits would undoubtedly have been the best professional backstop in the country.